The government on Tuesday began disbursing service benefits to workers of the closed down 25 state-owned mills under the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC).
Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi on Tuesday handed over cash and savings certificates to workers at a function organized by BJMC at Karim Jute Mills in Demra, Dhaka.
He handed over benefits to 30 workers under a golden handshake policy at a programme at the Karim Jute Mills premises. Minister of State for Labour Begum Monnujan Sufian was also present on the occasion.
Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation officials said that 1,769 workers of Karim Jute Mills would get their golden handshake benefits and another 612 workers who had retired from the mills earlier would also get their dues of Tk 114 crore.
The money would be transferred to the workers’ bank accounts.
The government on July 2 announced its decision to shut down production at all jute mills under the BJMC. It also announced a revamping of the mills under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative and vowed to clear the service benefits of all mills’ staff within the shortest possible time.
Of the total, Tk5,000 crore will be spent on the golden handshake, Tk800 crore against outstanding bank loans, Tk400 crore on outstanding bills against raw jute purchase and the remaining Tk400 crore on unpaid utility service bills.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Textiles and Jute on July 2, a total of 24,886 permanent workers voluntarily retired through the golden handshake policy, effective from July 1, as per Bangladesh Labour Law 2006.
Mills workers will be given wages for the 60-day notice period under the Labour Law, the release said, adding that they would be given gratuity as per National Wage Board.